This Retreat is for all the pastors of our District. It is being held January 6-8, 2020 in Bismarck. Rev. Bernie Worral of Immanuel, Fargo will present on Hebrews 11.

Worral writes, If you’ve ever been to the nation’s capital in Washington D.C. then you’ve seen the statues in the hallways. Each state has two statues…North Dakota has John Burke (Governor, US Treasuer, Chief Justice) and Sakakawea (Explorer). Hebrews chapter 11 also has a great hallway of faith filled with living memorials those who have walked in faith before us. Hebrews 13:7 says “Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

In our mid-week Lenten services we will be
doing just that in the outline of Hebrews chapter 11. We will start with Abel who by faith offered
a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. We will continue with Noah who by faith
built an ark for the saving of his household. We will walk with Abraham who by
faith “obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as
an inheritance.” We will look at Abraham again who by faith offered up his only
son yet believing that God could raise him from the dead because of the
promise: “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” We will walk with
Joseph who by faith “made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave
directions concerning his bones.” And we will travel with Moses who by faith
choose “rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the
fleeting pleasures of sin.”

The stories are all familiar, but often
misunderstood. I’ve found this notion of moral progress (even in Lutheran
commentaries) to be the central way most people look at the narratives of the
Old Testament, especially Abraham and Jacob. Yet Paul, in his letter to the Galatians,
takes up the “early” Abraham (Gen 15) to say he was justified by
faith….before circumcision (Gen 17).
So instead of bringing emphasis on the end product…Abraham the hero
offering his son in faith….Paul points us to the faith in the promise from
the outset.

Hebrews
chapter eleven is the definitive commentary on the Old Testament. And the
narratives become the basis for understanding the doctrine of faith. All
Christians talk about faith, but what is it exactly? Faith is never in
faith…but always points to its object….even if it be unseen.
Lent
is far more focused on the passion of Christ….so an Old Testament emphasis
might seem out of order. But this idea of sacrifice that is first with Abel,
and is seen with Noah who builds the first altar of the bible, and in Abraham
offering his son, his only son, Isaac, whom he loves….well this all points to
the cross.

Check the Mirror, Pastor — After Five Years, Your Church Looks
Like You.” This was the headline of an article that caused me to stop and
reflect. If it’s true that after five years the congregation I serve will look
a lot like me, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

If congregations begin to reflect their pastor over time, it might
lead the pastor to think about what he should do to shape his congregation. The
pastor will be tempted to think about how he can and should shape it: How can I
make my congregation enthusiastic for evangelism? How can I make my
congregation take the Word of God seriously and want to study it? How can I shape
my congregation to make an impact in our community?

But if those are the first questions the pastor asks, his focus is
in the wrong place. When I first read that headline and the accompanying article,
the reality that my congregation would reflect me as a pastor felt like a heavy
burden to bear. Do I really want my congregation to look like … me? To
paraphrase St. Paul, Do I really want my congregation to look like the chief of
sinners?

And yet, St. Paul also wrote in 1 Cor. 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as
I am of Christ.” How can Paul claim to be the chief of sinners and yet say, “be
imitators of me”? How can a pastor do the same?

In short, Paul wasn’t seeking to have the focus on him, but on Christ.
He understood that the example he set would impact how those to whom he was
ministering would see Christ. By speaking of himself as the chief of sinners
and as the least of the apostles, Paul modeled the reality of the need for
Christ and His forgiveness.

Pastors follow Paul’s example not when they seek to hold
themselves up as the perfect example to be imitated, but when they show the
congregation that they too are sinners in need of Jesus. By spending time in
God’s Word on a daily basis, devoting time to prayer, forgiving and seeking
forgiveness quickly, valuing and hungering for the Lord’s Supper, and being
honest about their weaknesses, pastors model the very things they want to see
in the flock they serve.

There’s much more to discuss concerning this topic, but I think it starts with pastors echoing the words of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Minneapolis, Here We Come!

The 2019 National Rural
& Small Town Mission Conference will be held Nov. 14–16 in Minneapolis,
Minn., at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Bloom­ington-Minneapolis South.
Registrations made after Sept. 1 are available but at an increased rate.
Register before Sept. 1 for the early registration rate! Late registration open until 9/20!

The blessings and challenges facing rural and small-town con­gregations today will be
addressed. Congregations will be encouraged to cul­tivate ways to become
healthy churches, eager to bear witness for Christ, able to show mercy to those
in need in communi­ties and develop a robust life together with fellow
members. We hope you’ll join us by
registering now and reserving your spot!

Speakers and Session
Topics

Keynote speakers will include
Rev. Todd Kollbaum, director, LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission and Dr.
Harold L. Senkbeil, Executive Director for Spiritual Care, DOXOLOGY. Rev.
Robert Zagore, execu­tive director, LCMS Office of National Mission, will lead
the theme Bible study of the conference based on Hebrews 12:1b-2a.

Breakout topics include dealing
with addictions, mental health, young adults in ministry, bi-vocational
pastors, steward­ship, community engagement, partnering with LERT, online education
and many other topics affecting our rural and small-town congregations. There
is something planned for everyone … from layperson to pastor, student to
teacher!

We encourage you to bring your
whole family to spend a few days together! Enjoy the Mall of America and take
advantage of the special family rates that include access to all conference
activities.

Don’t forget that a special
track for Youth Ministry will be returning this year, led by youth peer leaders
and spe­cially meant for your youth to join you as well; this option will have
a limited number of seats and require attendance in all six sessions.

Registration

Adult registration for the
conference is $225/person and includes all plenary and breakout sessions,
materials, Thursday dinner, Friday lunch and dinner and more. See our full
registration form for discounted rates for youth, students, families, couples,
LWML members, meals only and groups. Contact our office with questions.

Hotel reservations must be made
separately from conference registration. The Doubletree is offering a rate of
$100/ Single or Double plus applicable taxes for our group including breakfast
buffet per day per occupancy level; complimentary self-parking; complimentary
airport and Mall of America shuttle.

More information and online regis­tration can be found at lcms.org/rstm/conference

RSTM Events Update

Don’t forget that Rural & Small Town
Mission provides free monthly webinars on topics important to congregations in
town and country settings. Up next is “Church Reflections” with the Rev.
Benjamin Meyer on Sept. 26, followed by “Moving Beyond Survival: DOXOLOGY
and Your Church’s Future” with the Rev. Dr. Harold Senkbeil on Oct. 10.
Find past webinars in our archive.

Register for one our Engaging Your Community (EYC) or
Engaging the Wandering (ETW) events at lcms.org/ rstm. These partner
events offer practical resources and training in communication skills for
reaching out to our wandering members and communities with Christ’s love.
Contact your district or our office if you are interested in holding an event
near you.

The LCMS South Dakota District will partner with RSTM
to hold two ETW events, at St. John Lutheran Church, Groton, S.D., on Oct. 26,
and Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartford, S.D., on Oct. 27. Online registration is
available for these ETW events.

In
partnership with Minnesota South, RSTM is also rolling out a new type of event,
Welcoming, in Pipestone, MN on Oct. 12 that we think you and your
congregation are going to love and benefit from! We will address the little
known “brain gain” of rural and small-town communities. These day-long events
will help congregations to be more wel­coming places that provide God’s Word to
both current members and guests. They are also great opportunities for
leadership and volunteer training.

For
more information about our events or to see the rest of our calendar, visit lcms.org/rstm
or contact our office at 888- 463-5127 or rstm@lcms.org.

Register now! The 2019 National Rural & Small Town
Mission Conference, “Running With Endurance: Eyes Fixed On Jesus,” will
be held Nov. 14–16 in Minneapolis. Watch for updates and more information at lcms.org/rstm/conference.

For more
information about our events or to see the rest of our calendar, visit lcms.org/rstm
or contact our office at 888-463-5127 or rstm@lcms.org.

How do you watch the weekly MAIN STREET LIVING worship services and “This
Is The Life” programs? On cable, satellite, antenna, or over the
internet? This, of course, varies depending on what TV services you have AND
where you live. In general, the eastern half of North Dakota and the western
half of our Minnesota North Districts receive the MSLN broadcasts over the FOX
stations between 9:00-10:00 am each Sunday, plus the entire state of ND and the
eastern half of MNN also receive these broadcasts over the
WDAY XTRA stations between 10:00-11:00 am Central (9-10am
Mountain time).

Lately, we’ve had several
requests for a complete listing of the specific cable & satellite
companies and their channel assignments that carry our program in an
attempt to make locating MSLN easier for everyone. These lists have now been
sent to each of our ND & MNN District offices, and then forwarded to each
pastor and congregation in both districts – so if you are wondering
which cable and satellite stations are carrying MSLN in your area, please contact
your church office for this information.

Please continue to share
information about our LCMS “Main Street Living” media ministry with others. In
addition to being broadcast each Sunday morning – you can view all archived
programs at any time at www.mainstreetliving.com (then
click on the link under the picture identified as “North (Fargo).”

Thank you for your much
needed financial support! Checks may be sent to “Main Street Living NORTH,”
821-5th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103, or donate by Credit Card or your PayPal
account on the web site. God’s blessing in Christ!

“Main Street Living North” Programs for September 2019:

September 1:
Rev. Terry Finnern, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Miltona, MN, and St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church, Parker’s Prairie, MN, presents the
message: “Our Host for Eternity” based on Luke
14:7-11. Today’s “This Is TheLife” program
is: “Run Away”(Away we go, back to where we started
from).

September 15: Rev.
Daryl Rothchild, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Upham, ND, Faith Lutheran Church,
Towner, ND, and Zion Lutheran Church, Kramer, ND presents
the message: “Abundant Grace” based on I Timothy
1:12-17. Today’s This Is The Life program is; “Old
Smiley” (For over forty plus years, Charlie Grebs was certain that his
“Happiness God” from the Orient brought him good luck. In less than a day, he
fully realized that things are not always what they seem to be.)

September 22:Rev.
Jonathan Walla, Bethel Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND, presents the
message: “The Debt is Cancelled” based on Luke
16:1-15. Today’s This Is The Life program is;“To
Take a Life: (A devoted son’s loving father is terminally ill,
suffering severely and pleading to die.)

September 29:Rev.
Dennis Voss, vacancy pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, New Salem, ND and St.
Peter Lutheran Church, Hannover, ND presents the message: “The
Job of Angels” based on Matthew 18:10. Today’s “This
Is TheLife” program is: “Sharing the
Gospel” (Sharing the Gospel is neither swift nor easy, but truly
rewarding in the end.)

“MAIN STREET LIVING” is a locally produced TV program that includes a 30-minute
worship service led by participating pastors of the Minnesota North and North
Dakota Districts of our LCMS, along with a 30 minute
Lutheran Hour program (normally “This Is The Life,” along
with occasional church-season specials). Programs are broadcast at 9:00
amCentral Time on the following FOX stations: KVRR
Fargo-Moorhead Channel 15.1, KBRR Thief River Falls-Grand Forks Channel 10.1,
KJRR Jamestown Channel 7.1, KNRR Pembina Channel 12.1, ANDat 10:00am
Central (9:00am Mountain) on the following WDAY & affiliate Xtra Channels:WDAY
Xtra Channel 6.3 Fargo-Moorhead, WDAZ Xtra Channel 8.3 Grand Forks,KBMY
Xtra Channel 17.3 Bismarck/Dickinson, and KMCY Xtra Channel 14.3
Minot/Williston – as well as the cable and satellite systems carrying these
stations. (For a list of cable & satellite stations and
their channel assignments in your area, please contact your church
office.) MSLN programs are also archived and can be viewed at
any time on www.mainstreetliving.comthen click on “North
(Fargo).”

You’re a friend and partner of the
Ranch, so you know all about the good work your support makes possible. But
there may be a few things you don’t know about us. And, I believe you’ll find
the six Ranch facts below both enlightening and encouraging. For instance, did
you know…?

The Ranch’s Dakota Memorial School is the only fully accredited school system in North Dakota that’s not a public school.

Many of our children were barely passing their classes before coming to the Ranch. Yet two out of five made the honor roll last semester, while meeting the same rigorous requirements you’ll find at any public school.

Many of our kids never had a birthday party until they came to the Ranch.

This year, many of our students returned to their original schools to graduate with friends and peers.

We care for and cherish a herd of twenty three horses. The children are encouraged to ride and make friends with the horses. They often experience healing as they ride and work with a horse.

Ranch thrift stores process more than eleven million donated items a year. Sales at our stores provide an important source of income to help kids.

I hope you learned something you
didn’t know about why the Ranch is such an incredible resource for children who
have struggled to find peace, stability, and success in life. Children like
Sara . . .

Sara’s mom was young, single, and
unable to provide for her. Violence and instability were constants in their
home. No wonder Sara was angry, verbally abusive, disrespectful of authority,
and hamstrung by learning disabilities that made school a daily battle.

At the Ranch, Sara experienced a very
different kind of environment. Because our team recognized her struggles — and
also her many strengths as a unique child of God — she responded positively.

Sara says, “It didn’t feel safe at my
old school. But at the Ranch, if I need more help or things aren’t going well
at home, I can tell someone and feel safe. I don’t have to worry that more bad
things will happen because I told.”

Sara has been with us for about a
year now. Her improved attitude, behavior, and school performance have earned
her the admiration of her peers, who increasingly see her as a role model.

There’s a lesson here: With your
partnership in this work, even a deeply wounded child can find healing,
academic success, and spiritual growth. But we need your prayers and
partnership so we can provide the specialized support these kids need.

Will you give now to equip a Ranch
child to overcome the odds and move forward with confidence in school, in their
healing, AND at home? Through your gift, you’ll provide the specialized support
that makes it possible for a Ranch child to grow, learn, and prepare for a life
of confidence, independence, and accomplishment.
In His Love, Joy Ryan,
President/CEO | Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch

It’s a conversation I’ll never forget. While visiting with a local
pastor one day about the mental health focus of The Lutheran Foundation, he
shared something he did one Sunday morning in church.

As people gathered for
worship, everyone received a sheet of paper with a list of ten questions
related to mental health is­sues. There were questions like, “Have you ever
been depressed?” and “Have you ever been prescribed medication for mental
health issues?” Each person was to circle any question that applied to them.

When everyone finished answering
their questions, the ushers collected them. They shuffled the papers and walked
to a different part of the church to pass out those same sheets of paper. Each
person was now holding someone else’s paper (no names were on them.) The pastor
then started to read the questions, one by one, and asked people to stand up if
the ques­tion he read was circled on the sheet they were holding.

When people in the congregation saw the number of people standing
up in response to each question, there was an audible gasp from the
congregation. “Everyone thinks they are the only one living with mental health
issues,” the pas­tor said. Too often, the stigma is so great in the church that
people are afraid to talk about mental illness.

While author Amy Simpson was growing up, her mother had serious
psychotic episodes and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. The family was always
active in church. But when it came to her mother’s mental health issues, there
was silence and shame. “We needed community and loving friendships,” she says.
“The church is one of the only places left in society where that is readily
available — at least in theory.” Amy tells her family’s story in her book, Troubled
Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission. Amy says the phrase is not
original with her, but she often refers to mental illness as the “no-casserole
illness.” It’s not uncommon for people from church to bring a casserole when a
family member is in the hospital, or when there has been a death in the family.
But when it’s mental illness, people often don’t call or visit, or bring
casseroles.

However, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that one in five adults will experience a mental illness in any given year. That also means one in five in our churches. Most people don’t re­alize that mental illness is more common than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined.

The Lutheran Foundation is focused on promoting mental wellness
and reducing stigma around mental illness. Starting the conversation and
silencing the stigma is one step toward healing. Sometimes those caring
conversations happen best across the table… over a casserole.Contributed
through the LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission monthly newsletter By Rev. Dr.
Dennis Goff, director of Ministry Programs for The Lutheran Foundation, Fort
Wayne, Ind.

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction” 2
Timothy4:2.With this in mind, please continue to
share information about our LCMS “Main Street Living” media ministry with
others. MSLN is broadcast each Sunday morning – and also available every day at
www.mainstreetliving.com (then click on the link under the
picture identified as “North (Fargo)”.

Thank you for your
much needed financial support! Checks may be sent to “Main Street Living
NORTH”, 821-5th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103, or donate by Credit Card or your
PayPal account on the web site. God’s blessing in Christ!

August
11:
Rev. Richard Biberdorf, Grace
Lutheran Church, Carrington, ND, Grace Lutheran Church, Cooperstown, ND, and
Zion Lutheran Church, Binford, ND, presents the message: “Don’t
Give Up On God” based on Genesis 15:1-6. Today’s “This
Is The Life” program is: “One Hour to Live” (Divine forgiveness for the
truly penitent assures a man … and in the nick of time.)

August
18: Rev.
Dr. Larry Harvala, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Euclid, MN and Trinity Lutheran
Church, Fischer, MN, presents
the message: “By Faith” based on Hebrews 12:1. Today’s This
Is The Life program is; “Trial By
Fire”.

“MAIN
STREET LIVING”
is a locally produced TV program that includes a 30 minute worship service led
by participating pastors of the Minnesota North and North Dakota Districts of
our LCMS, along with a 30 minute Lutheran
Hour program (normally “This Is The Life”, along with occasional
church-season specials). Programs are broadcast at 9:00amCentral
time on the following FOX stations: KVRR Fargo-Moorhead Channel 15.1,
KBRR Thief River Falls-Grand Forks Channel 10.1, KJRR Jamestown Channel 7.1,
KNRR Pembina Channel 12.1, ANDat 10:00am Central
(9:00am Mountain) on the following WDAY & affiliate Xtra
Channels:WDAY Xtra Channel 6.3 Fargo-Moorhead, WDAZ Xtra
Channel 8.3 Grand Forks,KBMY Xtra Channel 17.3 Bismarck/Dickinson, and
KMCY Xtra Channel 14.3 Minot/Williston – as well as the cable and satellite
systems carrying these stations, some of which may have a different channel
number, and archived on www.mainstreetliving.com (then click on “North (Fargo)”.

Where I serve, people are conservative. I don’t mean that they watch Fox News and listen to Rush Limbaugh (although plenty of them do). I’m talking about the deep-down conservatism that always asks the question, “Pastor, if we’ve been doing it this way for so many years, why would you ask us to change? Is the risk of messing up what’s been working just fine really worth whatever little marginal gain you think your new way of doing things will give us?”

That question may not always be put into so many words, but after 13 years in rural ministry, I’ve learned that that’s what people are thinking pretty much any time I make a suggestion for doing something new or different in our church. And I’ve come to appreciate the question. People are most conservative about the things they know best — and for good reason. Human life is short, and we humans are slow learners. The traditions we’ve been given by previous generations represent the distilled wisdom of the ages. So it’s a good question.

But wisdom, alas, is not the only thing handed down by our fathers, nor is it the only thing we are preparing to hand down to our children. If we’re not careful, we can also pass on our bad ideas, our laziness, and our mistakes.

So, to turn to the topic at hand, how are things in your congregation financially? How’s the stewardship of the people? Do you find yourself running short in the summer months? Do you run bulletin announcements asking people to dig a little deeper and put a little more in the plate to catch up to the budget in October, November, and December? Do you worry about closing the school, cutting a staff position, getting the roof fixed, or even being able to afford your own pastor?

I get around the Synod a lot, and I can tell you that I’ve rarely found a rural parish that doesn’t struggle with things like that. Indeed, that’s how I got into stewardship ministry in the first place: I had to face those challenges in the parishes I still serve. So if what we’re doing is not working out, maybe it is time to learn and change. Maybe there are deeper, even more conservative traditions to follow when it comes to our stewardship: instructions from God’s Word on how to be active, faithful, generous, Gospel-centered stew¬ards of God’s good and gracious gifts. I hope you can join me for a webinar on this topic in July. I’ll talk about what really works for stewardship in the rural parish (or any parish, really): putting the Word of God first, finding stewardship’s place in the Christian life and the theo¬logical task of the Lutheran pastor, and teaching generosity and the support of the Lord’s work in a faithful, authentic, natural way.

Contributed through the LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission monthly newsletter by Rev. Heath Curtis, Coordinator of LCMS Stewardship

Upcoming RSTM Events…

Don’t forget that Rural & Small Town Mission provides free monthly webinars on topics relevant to congregations in town and country settings. Up next is “Active Stewardship in the Rural Parish” on July 25, followed by “The No- Casserole Illness and How the Church Can Respond” on Aug. 22. Find past webinars in our archives. Register for one of our Engaging Your Community (EYC) or Engaging the Wandering (ETW) events at lcms.org/ rstm. These partner events offer practical resources and communication skills for reaching out to our wandering members and our communities with Christ’s love. Contact your district office or ours if you are interested in holding an event near you. Register now for the 2019 National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference, Running With Endurance: Eyes Fixed On Jesus, Nov. 14–16 in Minneapolis. lcms.org/rstm/conference To see our calendar, visit lcms.org/rstm. Contact our office at 888-463-5127 or rstm@lcms.org.